Chemical fire extinguisher



(No'Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I J. N. EASTWOOD. CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

No. 554,363. Patented Peb. 1l, 1896-.

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14C-messen f, mm I@ ('No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

J. N. EASTWOOD.

CHEMICAL PIRE EXTINGUISHEB.

N0. 554,363. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

' je? X7 f Nrrn STATES nrnivr trice.

JAMES N. EASTWOOD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR u E. STILWELL, OF SAME PLACE.

CHEMICAL FIRE-,ExTlNculsl-ma.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,363, dated February 1l, 1896.

Application led May 8, 1895. Serial No. 548,550. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMns N. EAsrWooD, of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chemical Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to chemical fire-extin guishers; and my object is to generally improve such apparatus by substituting a support for the bottle detachable from the cap in lieu of the usual iiXed depending cage or Wire, and providing a stopper for the acid-bottle which will resist the acid, and at the same time adapt itself to any irregularity in the mouth of the bottle, so that leakage is absolutely prevented.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l represents a vertical sectional view of a chemical fire-extinguisher embodying my invention. Fig. 2represents an inverted plan view of the cap on an enlarged scale and shows, also, the bottle-supports in section. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, but on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the stopper and a portion of the stem carrying the same. Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of the external portion of the stopper or that which enters the mouth of the acid-bottle. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the upper portion of a part of the bottle-supporting frame. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bottle and t e supporting-frame.

In the said drawings, l designates the tank, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction, but i preferably comprises a sheet-1n etal body portion, and cast-metal ends riveted thereto. The casting at the upper end of the tank is formed with an externallythreaded neck 2, which is engaged by the internally-tlu'eaded cap 3, and said cap is provided With an arch portion 4, extending diametrioally of the same, and serves as a handle for screwing the cap on and off the tank. It is also provided with a'central aperture 5, which performs the function of a guide, as will be hereinafter explained, and is in vertical alignment with the threaded opening G in the center of the cap, said opening 6 also extending through the depending circular boss 7. Said boss is also externally threaded, as at 8, to receive the clamping-nut 9. A frame for supporting the acid-bottle consists of a pair of oppositely-disposed plates l0, preferably of copper or brass, and said plates are segmental in cross-section to snugly inclose the acid-bottle l1, and are also bent to lit the same snugly throughout its entire length, as shown clearly in Fig. l, to prevent any lateral displacement of the bottle, and at their lower ends are bent inwardly to receive and are soldered or otherwise secured to the bottom l2, upon which the bottle rests, and at their upper ends are bent inwardly to form the arms l3,which are interposed and clamped firmly between the under side of the cap and the said nut 9. In order to make the connection at this point more positive and reliable I prefer to form openings 13"L in said arms 13, which embrace the boss 7 and iit one upon the other, and one of said plates is provided with a depending flange or shoulder 13b, which engages the upper end of the other plate to hold them from accidentally spreading apart and losing their grip upon the bottle, as shown clearly in Fig. l. Said plates, at their weakest part, opposite the neck of the bottle, are longitudinally corrugated, as at I3, to stiifen and strengthen them. (See Figs. l and 7.)

From the foregoing it is evident that by gripping the arch portion i the cap may be quickly and easilyremoved, together with the bottle, and that the bottle may be easily removed from position by removing the nut 9 from the boss 7, when the plates of the supporting-frame are free to move or be moved apart at their upper ends, the bottom bending slightly to permit this movement. By this simple construction it is evident that if either or both of the supports became injured it or they could be easily and cheaply replaced in a few minutes. l'.

IOO

It is manifest that in the place of the frame I may employ the ordinary wire cage, with its upper end bent inwardly and clamped between the cap 3 and the nut 9, instead of securing it to the cap in the usual manner, or I may employ a frame similar to that described and shown, except that it may be opened at the bottom instead of the top.

The mechanism for opening and closing the mouth of the bottle I will now proceed to describe.

14 designates a stopper of lead, which is of the usual tapering formation externally, and is annularly grooved in its upper side to form the upwardly-flaring thin wall 15, which is flexible, and the upwardly-projecting and centrally-arranged stem 16, and fitting snugly within said annular groove or cavity and having its upper surface above the plane of the upper surface of the wall 15 is a ring 17 of rubber or equivalent material. A stem extends through the threaded opening 6 of the cap, and the opening 5 of the arch thereof, and comprises the threaded portion 18, which extends through the cap proper, and a smooth portion 19, which extends through the said arch and is provided with a hand-wheel 2O at its upper end. The threaded portion 18 terminates at its lower end in an enlargement, which is provided with an outwardly-projecting annular flange 20 and a central cavity or recess 2l, into which projects the stem 16 of the stopper. Said stem is secured in said cavity or recess by means of a spring-cotter 22, which engages registering apertures in the enlargement of the stem 18 and in the stem 16, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

To close the mouth of the bottle and prevent the accidental escape or leakage of the acid or the entrance of liquid therein, the stem 18 is screwed downwardly and the stopper enters themouth of the bottle, and under the pressure of said stem fits tightly therein, adapting itself to any irregularity which may exist in the mouth of' the bottle, owing to the fact that the thin wall 15 is flexible and will yield inwardly. The rubber ring 17 permits this inward yielding of the wall 15 to a limited extent only, owing to the great pressure upon it from the flange 20, and for the same reason, by expansion under pressure, tends to cause the thin lead wall to adapt itself accurately to the contour of the mouth of the bottle, so that an absolutely-tight joint is made, which will prevent the exit or entrance of liquid from or into the bottle. 'Io insure further that said joint is absolutely tight, the clamping action of the flange 20 causes the rubber ring to overlap the outer edge of the wall15 and bridge the joint between the same and the upper edge of the bottle, as shown clearly in Fig. l.

When it is desired to put the extinguisher in operation, the hand-wheel 2O is given a few turns to raise the stopper, and the tank inverted in the usual manner to permit the acid to quickly escape and mix with the liquid in the tank, when the pressure thus generated discharges the contents of the tank upon the fire by way of the iiexible tube 23, when the valve (not shown) is opened in the usual manner. In order to make theaction of the stopper still more positive and reliable, it is desirable that the bottle remain stationary under the twisting pressure applied in screwing the stopper down to place, and to effect this I preferably form the bottle with one or more externally-projecting ribs, as shown at 11, which, by coming in contact with the edges of the supporting-plates, prevent the bottle from turning in either direction.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a chemical fire-extinguisher which successfully accomplishes the object mentioned in the statement of invention, and which at the same time is exceedingly simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a chemical fire-extin guisher, the combination of a tank, a cap closing one end of the same, a threaded boss depending from said cap, an adjustable stem carried by the cap, a stopper secured to said stem, a bottle, a supporting-frame, comprising a pair of plates embracing snugly opposite sides and the bottom of the bottle, and provided with overlapping arms at their upper ends, and a nut engaging the threaded boss and clamping the said arms firmly against each other and the bottom of the cap.

2. A chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising a tank, a cap closing the open end of the same, a boss depending centrally from said cap and internally and externally screw-threaded, an acid-bottle, supporting-plates which conform to the vertical contour of the bottle, are segmental in cross-section to fit the bottle snugly, are bent inwardly at their lower ends against the bottom of the bottle, and are bent inwardly at their upper ends against the under side of the cap, a clamping-nut engaging the externally-threaded boss and clamping the last-named arms of the supporting-plates firmly against the under side of the cap, and a stem engaging the internal threads of said boss and provided with a hand-wheel at its upper end and with a stopper at its lower end to close the mouth of the bottle, substantially as set forth.

3. A chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising a tank, a cap closing the upper end of the same, a boss depending centrally from said cap and internally and externally screwthreaded, an arch projecting from the cap, an acid-bottle, supporting-plates which conform to the vertical contour of the bottle, are segmental in cross-section to lit the bottle snugly, are bent inwardly at their lower ends against the bottom of the bottle, and are bent inwardly at their upper ends against the under side of the cap, a clamping-nut engaging the IOC externally-threaded boss and clamping the last-named arms of the supporting-plates iirmly against the under side of the cap, and a stem engaging the internal threads of said boss and provided with a hand-wheel at its upper end, and with a stopper at its lower end to close the mouth of the bottle, substantially as set forth.

4L. A chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising a tank, a cap closing the open end of the same, a boss depending centrally from said cap and externally and internally screw-threaded, an acid-bottle, supporting-plates which conform to the vertical contour of the bottle, are segmental in cross-section to iit the bottle snugly, are bent inwardly at their lower ends against the bottom of the bottle, and are bent inwardly at their upper ends, one against the under side of the cap and the other against the under side of the first-named arm, and

` are provided with apertures through which said boss projects, a clamping-nut engaging the externally-threaded boss and clamping the last-named arms of the supportingplates firmly against the under side of the cap, and a stem engaging the internal threads of said boss and provided with a hand-wheel at its upper end and with a stopper at its lower end to close the mouth of the bottle, substantially as set forth.

5. A chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising a tank, a cap closing the open end of the same, supports carried thereby, an acid-bottle carried by said supports, a threaded stem carried by said cap and provided with a cavity or recess in its lower end and with an annular flange surrounding said cavity or recess, a stopper of flexible material in the mouth of the bottle and having an upwardly-flaring thin wall and anupwardly-projecting central stem which lits detachably in said cavity or recess, an elastic piece surrounding the stopper-stem and interposed between the flange and the body portion of the stopper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. In combination, a bottle, a stopper therefor, comprising a body portion having an upwardly-flaring thin wall and an upwardly- 'projecting centrally-located stem, and a ring of rubber surrounding said stem and resting upon the body portion of the stopper, and means to force the same tightly down into the mouth of the bottle, substantially as set forth.

7. In a chemical fire-extinguisher, the combination of a suitable casing, a cap for the same, la frame detachably connected to said cap, consisting of a pair of bottle-supporting plates l0, a bottom 12, uniting their lower ends, inwardly-projecting arms at their upper ends provided with apertures, and a flange depending from the free or inner end of one of said arms, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M. R. REMLEY, S. B. FALoR. 

